Which component of the red blood cell is responsible for transporting O2 and CO2?

The component of red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) is hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a specialized protein found in red blood cells that has a high affinity for oxygen, allowing it to effectively pick up O2 in the lungs and transport it to tissues throughout the body. Once it delivers oxygen to the tissues, hemoglobin binds to carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, and carries it back to the lungs for exhalation. This dual function of hemoglobin is crucial for maintaining the body's respiratory and metabolic needs.

In contrast, plasma is the liquid component of blood that carries nutrients, hormones, and waste products but does not play a direct role in gas transport. Platelets are involved in blood clotting and do not participate in gas exchange. White blood cells are part of the immune system and primarily function to defend the body against infections, rather than participating in oxygen or carbon dioxide transport.